When I was in high school, the person I wanted to emulate the most was Don Cherry.
I loved his outspoken and bombastic rants, his controversial comments and his ability to say just about anything he wanted. Sure, there were words he couldn’t say on Coach’s Corner, thanks to CRTC regulations, but outside of that, Cherry had free reign.
So what if he had a Grade 10 education and horrible fashion sense? The man they called “Grapes” was cool. And his five-minute Coach’s Corner segment each week drew higher ratings than the hockey game itself.
It was must-see television. People stopped what they were doing when he was on the air. You could talk during the game, as long as it was about the game. But when Cherry was on, you shut up, or risked being tossed from the room.
Eventually it stopped being must-see TV for me. Thanks to my job, and the fact that I usually work on Saturday nights during hockey season, I didn’t get to watch Coach’s Corner very often.
And frankly, Cherry’s approach to the game became tired and out of touch. Each week he covered the same things. Well-dressed players, a couple of big hits, a nice goal, a big save, the defenders who didn’t get their sticks out of the way of a shot, the 1976 Boston Bruins, and the problems with the way defencemen play the game now. Repeat.
He never realized that every defenceman in today’s NHL grew up playing without the red line, and that they can all make the long stretch pass.
If you want to see how far he fell behind the times, just look at his coaching record with the Mississauga Ice Dogs in 2001-02. They won 11 games. And that was before the obstruction crackdown occurred that left Cherry’s approach further in the past.
But he was still Cherry. He was still the most high-profile broadcaster in the country, and one of the most prominent people in the game.
He also had a strong commitment to philanthropy, and was possibly the most high-profile champion for the men and women of the Canadian Forces, as well as police officers, firefighters and other first responders and law enforcement personnel. No matter what you thought of him, you had to admire him for the support he showed for all of these great people.
But last Saturday, that support took an ugly turn during his annual salute to the veterans.
When he singled out immigrants for not wearing a poppy – and regardless of what he intended to say, that’s what he said – he doomed his tenure on Coach’s Corner.
If he would have gone after everyone who doesn’t wear a poppy, then we’re having a very different conversation.
Cherry made it sound like immigrants are the only ones who don’t wear this symbol of remembrance cherished by so many of us. And in doing so, he crossed the line in a way he hadn’t in 38 years on Coach’s Corner.
I’ve seen lots of immigrants wear poppies. I’ve seen lots of people from Canada not wear poppies. I’ve heard people born here voice support for the absurd white poppy.
There was no truth in Cherry’s statement.
I think everyone in Canada should wear a poppy. I’ve worn a poppy for Remembrance Day every year for my whole life. If you lose your poppy, drop a loonie or toonie in the tray and buy another one the first chance you get. The money goes to veterans.
Regardless of how old you are, where you’re from or what you believe, you need to have that poppy for just a few days in late October and early November, because we owe our veterans everything.
I don’t fault Sportsnet for firing him; when one of your employees makes a statement like that, you have to take action.
I do take exception with their decision to turf him on Remembrance Day. They could have waited a day to fire him. It is ironic that they fired him on a day that he values so much, but the horrible part is their decision made Nov. 11 about Sportsnet and Don Cherry, and diverted attention from tributes and ceremonies.
They should have waited one more day, and then lowered the boom.
Cherry’s long-time co-host Ron MacLean also should get some criticism for not interjecting while Grapes was in the midst of his diatribe, something he has done in the past, but MacLean’s spot with Sportsnet is safe, because he contributes a lot more as a host and an interviewer than Cherry.
We’ll see what happens with Cherry. He’s still in fairly good shape for a man who is 85. He’s out of touch with the current game, but he’s still loud, he still gets your attention and there’s still that faction of fans that watches him religiously. And if he does go elsewhere, there’ll be keen interest in those first few appearances.
But it won’t be the same as Coach’s Corner on Hockey Night in Canada.
